Heads Up! 250 Kids + Staff Munching Through a Food Toking Up
It’s a story that’s been playing out in the city’s playgrounds, and the numbers are climbing faster than bubble gum on a hot day. Bay seafood? Nope – it’s a pre‑school food poisoning outbreak that has swelled from a dozen, to over 250 children and dozens of teachers who’ve had to deal with sour stomachs and a lot of paperwork.
Where the Numbers Come From
Here’s the low‑down on how the tally grew:
- PCF Sparkletots (Singapore Ministry of Education Foundation)
- Children: 229
- Staff: 12
- All branches combined: 241
- +Plan Student Care Centre (MOH announcement)
- Additional 16 cases
- Final total of affected pre‑schoolers: 257
Another 31 youngsters were sent to the hospital, but the good news is 30 have been discharged and the last one is stable. Teachers, on the bright side, all made it home without needing a bed in a clinic—just a lot of starchy comfort food refetches.
New Affected Sites
Baby‑care hubs, you know the ones that snack on bottom‑filled biscuits and fruit‑drops? All of them are now on the watchlist.
- 12 existing PCF sites in Toa Payoh, Sengkang, Paya Lebar, Punggol
- New spot: Punggol Coast Block 303A
We’re Here for the Families
We’re no slacking off on our part. Each of the 356 centers is rolling out daily temperature checks and stepping up cleaning protocols. To shoulder the financial strain, PCF is offering financial aid to any families hit by medical bills.
“We’ve got your back,” the spokesman said, clarifying the urgency with “We’re monitoring every child’s condition”. We’re plus a scenic calendar of daily check‑ins, because when it comes to safety, any delay is a disallowed snack.
The Culprit? Kate’s Catering
Turns out some mouldy mystery travels came from Kate’s Catering. The restaurant’s food service was cut off last Tuesday, following notices from NEA and other authorities. Our catering history dates back to August 2018—roughly the age of a fifteen‑year‑old’s sushi binge. As of March 20, 2019, 35 of the 356 centers relied on them for food.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) says it’s putting a pause on all operations as it checks out the case. The Agri‑Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore and MOH are on the same page, diving deep into the mystery.
All In Solution
Kate’s Catering spokesperson says they’re teaming up with authorities to untangle all the tangled noodles – literally and figuratively. No anger, no broken sentences, just a thorough investigation.
It’s a tough lesson for all of us: keep your kitchen iron‑clad, keep your times security sticks prime. Let’s hope the next scrumptious formula includes a smaller kernel of “refreshing” order and fewer magical doctors waiting to fix a simple tummy problem. O Brave kids, stay well, and teachers – keep those grub rules extremely strict.
